Risk profiles for sexually transmitted diseases among patients attending the venereal disease clinic at Alexandria Main University Hospital

Risk factors for sexually transmitted diseases [STDs] were assessed among 54 male and 36 female patients attending a venereal disease clinic. Sociodemographic data and information on sexual behaviour/STD history were collected. Patients were examined and specimens taken for laboratory diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the significant predictors of genital infections among the male patients were: being unmarried, having multiple sexual partners, exposure to a symptomatic sexual partner, high frequency of intercourse per week, having repeated episode[s] of STDs and practising coitus interfemoris. In the female patients, exposure to a symptomatic sexual partner and high frequency of intercourse per week were the only significant predictors

Behavioral evaluation of the teaching of communication skills to maternal and child health physicians in Alexandria

The purpose of this paper is to describe the teaching of communication skills to [MCH] physicians, and to determine whether the teaching was associated with detectable changes in physicians, communication behavior. The results revealed that the trainees overall communication behavior at the end of the course were superior to that the start on several measures, indicating improvements in relating to the patients in a caring, empathic and listening manner. They appeared more likely to provide the circumstances in which the patient would be able to talk freely. They also elicited more information relevant to the problem, Although, the course aim of further developing physicians, interpersonal communication skills was to some extent achieved, there remains a need for considerably more training

Study of the risk of stillbirth in relation to selected maternal factors

The purpses of this study werre to reveal the stillbirth ratio based on hospital data, and to study the risk of stillbirth in relation to selected maternal factors. From the results obtained, it was concluded that there were many preventable maternal factors still contributing a major share to the high stillbirth ratio. Proper facilities of antenatal, natal and postnatal care as well as family planning, genetic diagnostic and counseling services and consciousness about their importance in the general population will go a long way in reducing the stillbirth ratio